So-Called Dollars

NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR
1939-1940
NEW YORK, NY

Purpose: To commemorate 150th anniversary of
Inauguration of George Washington as our First President by "presenting
a…comprehensive picture of the epochal achievements of a century and a half
of modern civilization…" and to "show the way toward improvement of all
factors contributing to human welfare."

Organization: Our largest exposition ever.
Preliminary Committee of 6 appointed June 1935. Exposition Co. chartered
Oct. 1935, capital $42,000,000; public subscription to stock. City granted
$26,500,000; state over $6,000,000 and Congress $3,000,000.

Site: Over 1,200 acres, 3 1/2 miles by 1 1/2 miles at
widest, Flushing Meadows, Long Island; previously used as city dump; now
mostly built over but portion is a park. This site also hosted the 1964 New
York World's Fair.

Dates, Attendance: First year, April 30 to Oct.
31, 1939; second year, May 11 to Oct. 27, 1940. Total attendance, both
years, over 45,000,000 paid.

Participants: All states and territories and 63
foreign countries, latter number the largest ever. Dozens of both erected
own buildings. Exhibits exceeded 50,000; many Federal displays but no
Mint Exhibit.

Comment: Architecture was modern in character
reflecting "individual freedom of thought of those creating it." From this
great exposition, and from 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, Chicago,
came "cleanness of line, simplicity and color consciousness" carried over
later into shops, interiors and industry. Grounds were so designed that
important plaza at each entrance led to Fair's dominant feature, Theme
Center or famous Trylon and Perisphere.

Latter was true sphere, 180 ft. in diameter, 18 stories
high. It housed Theme Exhibit or "Garden City of Tomorrow," largest model
city ever built; flanked by Trylon, 700 ft. triangular obelisk. Exposition
was divided into zones--each a significant phase of modern life, e.g.,
Government, Transportation, Communication, Shelter, Clothing, Food, etc.
Railroad exhibit was largest on grounds and there was privately sponsored
numismatic exhibit.

Medals: Both Official Tokens and Official Medals
were issued. Latter designed by Julio Kilenyi, struck by Robbins Co. Sizes,
1 1/4 in. bronze & brass; 2 1/4 in. and 3 in. bronze only, preclude listing here.
Token was medal and not trade token; actually, it became known as World's
Fair Dollar, per below; all latter dated 1939, no 1940 issue.

WORLD'S FAIR DOLLAR

Designed by H. C. Kreis, struck by Medallic Art Co. and
sold by Manufacturers Trust Co. at its Exposition branch beginning June 23,
1939. Dubbed World's Fair Dollar probably because it cost $1, was silver
with reeded edge and length was about equal to diameter of silver dollar.
Originally intended to be round, but changed to elliptical at last minute to
comply with slug laws promulgated by the vending machine industry. It is
.900 fine, containing 59.06% of silver content of silver dollar.

Photos courtesy of John Dean

Obv. Trylon and Perisphere; around New York
World's Fair; below 1939Rev. In field, within beaded oval, + /
Official Token / Created by Order / of the Executive /
Committee. / March 27th, 1939 / (signed) Grover W. Whalen
/ President / +; outside, around * New York World's Fair
1939 Incorporated

Discovered 1803 by British scientist W. H. Wollaston
and named from Pallas Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, Good Fortune and Health,
palladium is one of 6 precious metals of platinum group; used widely in
electrical contacts, in jewelry and as catalyst. On basis of world
production, palladium is slightly rarer than platinum which, in turn, is 14
times as rare as gold.

Baker states its "records…have been destroyed and all
of the people…involved…have passed away"; that "most of those (medals) sold
were returned eventually" for refund and later were melted down. No more 1
oz. pieces are in stock and dies have been destroyed. All medals were dated
1939, no 1940 issue.

LINCOLN GOLD DOLLAR

Issued expressly for exposition by late Thomas L.
Elder, New York City coin dealer (see Part III for Elder biographical
sketch); struck by Medallic Art Co. Of the 500 issued, 100 were struck with
matte surface; all medals were dated 1939, no 1940 issue.

Photos courtesy of John Dean

Obv. Male bust facing l.; to l., around
Abraham; to r., around Lincoln; below bust 1939.Rev. Circle of 9 stars around A /
Token--all within open wreath tied at bottom with ribbon; another star in
open space at top between wreath tips.

NORTH CAROLINA DOLLAR

Distributed as advertising piece by North Carolina
Department of Conservation and Development at North Carolina exhibit at
Exposition. Issue limited to 25,000 pieces donated by Aluminum Co. of
America (now Alcoa, Inc.), which has plant located in state.